MAVS NEWS: Luka Is Hurt, But is Trudging On | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[Chicagojk]

SF...
I still say that the only way to make the Luka/Kyrie starting combo work is with a big and defensive minded SF (OG type).  OMax may fulfill this role at some point, but I don't see that point this year.  He needs to be looking for a condo in Frisco, not Dallas.  I like J.Green, but he is too small for this role and is not a rebounder.
Thoughts on Holmes/27FRP for KPJ/Eason?  Start Eason.  J.Green as your 6th man.

Center...
We now see why we were given the #24 pick to take on Holmes.  Shot.  Done.  Maxi?  Shot.  Done.  Powell?  He didn't have a tremendous amount of talent as a baseline; now age has diminished even that greatly.  Lively?  He's so raw and foul-troubled.  This was a known fact, but out of necessity it seems we're going to run him out there as a starter.  This scares me.  Most starting centers don't get big minutes.  I really think we need a starting caliber C to platoon with Lively.
Thoughts on Zubac, Z.Collins, ???

SF will be very interesting to follow this year.   I just have a feeling Mavs don't think they have their long term starter at that position currently (I think they see Josh Green as heavy minute bench guy).  So the start of the season will be important for Josh to take that opportunity and run with it.  I was higher on Brunson's upside than I am with Green's, but the team had some of the same reservations on Brunson's role (and that bothered me so much ha).  Jalen took the opportunity and ran with it.  It just feels like the Mavs were looking for a starting SF this offseason (Bogdanovich, Bruce Brown, Dillon Brooks, Thybulle were the ones we heard about).  I think SF is the most likely position the team tries to use their assets to fill eventually.  Lets see if Green can change their mind.

I am not an expert on Omax prior to the draft.   Maybe he doesn't work out.  He probably will be outside of the main rotation to begin the year and may just get small doses of playing time.   I wouldn't discount him this year though.   I think he does a lot of things that will help this team once the game slows down for him a little.    His three point shot and ball handling looks a little rough and that will take time.   I just think he could provide some valuable things this team needs as the season goes along.

As far as Center goes, things get tricky.  You have to expect even in the best case Lively is going to have rough spots (games, week, weeks?).   82 games is a long season for a rookie.   My hope is Lively can provide 15-20 minutes of solid play.  Same for Dwight Powell.  Lets say that gives us 30 minutes of respectable center play.  The rest I think we see Grant and maybe Maxi paired together.   Grant can guard the big strong guy and Maxi can float a little and be the off ball shot blocker.   Maybe that is where Derrick Jones can find minutes in the grouping.